Good, clean, cross-dressing fun in Taproot’s “Charley’s Aunt”

Although it originally debuted in 1892, Brandon Thomas’ Victorian Era farce, Charley’s Aunt, is still pleasing audiences today. Director Karen Lund says, “We wanted to bring something funny and romantic, bright and frothy and fun to the stage.”

When two Oxford blokes Charley Wykeham (Josh Smyth) and Jack Chesney (Eric Reidman) find love, they must also devise a plan including a chaperone in order to woo their sweethearts, Amy Spettigue (Emily Fairbrook) and Kitty Verdun (Anne Kennedy) before they take off for the summer. When Charley receives word that a wealthy aunt from Brazil whom he’s never met, Donna Lucia D’Alvadorez (Llysa Holland), plans to visit him, the friends have found the perfect opportunity to invite the ladies on over.

However the plan quickly goes awry when news that Donna Lucia has had a change in plans and will no longer be coming. Alas, the girls are already on their way. What to do, what to do. By George they hire an impersonator, or rather a coerce schoolmate Lord Fancourt Babberly (Steve West) who just happens to have a dress and wig on-hand, into pretending to be (you guessed it) Charley’s aunt!

From this point on, shenanigans and tomfoolery ensue for the show’s remainder. Babbelry’s masquerade is thoroughly unconvincing as Charley’s aunt, introducing himself as the real Donna Lucia from Brazil, “where the nuts come from,” but this is where the real laughs come from. West never slows down while keeping up the chaotic guise of Donna Lucia, while an ensemble cast rounds out the story with more entertaining high jinks. The actors must be deft at comedic timing in order to pull off some of the shows stunts, and they rise to the occasion in this production. When the real Donna Lucia eventually shows up, Holland plays her with beauty and grace.

Taproot gives this unfathomable romp about young love, and the lengths unversed men will go for it, a new life with modern audiences.

Charley’s Aunt runs through June 12 at Taproot Theatre, and on Friday nights after the show Taproot’s improv comedy troupe takes the stage with their best material, provided by the audience of course! More info here.